do everything from washing her clothing in the stream to hunting with the strange stringed weapon she carries slung over her shoulder. When I originally saw it, I’d no idea it was a weapon. That wasn’t something we studied before coming here.
She’s not very good with it, but it’s entertaining to watch. I’ve had more fun here watching her than I can remember having in years. She’s tireless and patient and determined …
I get a notification of movement from the second layer of perimeter sensors I’ve set up. It’s still quite far away from the cabin, but I’ve made it my duty to monitor the entire area. It may seem like overkill with how remote we are, but this is my mate we’re talking about here.
Sure, she doesn’t know that yet, and based on the skittish way she acts every time I’ve had her catch a glimpse of me in my gateway, she’s very wary. Sometimes she ignores me.
I’ve heard her talk to herself about me. Things like, “Don’t pay any attention, Zoey. He isn’t really there … not there … not there …”
This leads me to believe her name is Zoey, but I’ve never heard that name before. Not that I’m familiar with all the possible names Human females use. I’m speculating and learning what I can, but I never realized how tricky it’d be to keep track of someone and follow them if they could see me in my gateway!
Phasing to the perimeter sensor, I watch in shock as two Wen-infected males stumble through the brush. They’re both wearing fluorescent vests and multiple layers of clothing. One still has a projectile weapon the Humans use called a rifle slung over his shoulder. The other is wearing a backpack but doesn’t have a weapon. If I had to guess, I’d say they’re father and son based on how much they look alike.
It’s disheartening to see that the virus has spread so far. I still haven’t bothered to check in on the logs for my squad. I was serious when I spoke with Purlogh. I don’t want anything more to do with it right now. I thought I wanted to enjoy this planet and look at all the native species, but over the last couple days, it’s become clear I was just looking for my mate.
I was being drawn to her on a subliminal level. She’s already become my world, and she doesn’t even know me yet. There’s so much I’d love to share with her, but the fear that takes over her features when she sees me … it gives me pause. I’m not sure if it’s because someone has hurt her and she believes I may do the same, or if her words mean she believes I’m a figment of her imagination?
I know the Sinth Sovereignty has ordered us to only subdue the Wen-infected humans when we see them, but it’s ludicrous. Do they really think these Humans would want to come back from this? Remembering what they did while they were infected?
For many of them, when they’re in heavily populated areas, it’s not unusual for them to wake in their homes and attack other family members they live with. Would you want to remember if you ate your child—alive? Turning them into something that’ll never grow up and missing half their flesh?
I wouldn’t want to remember.
With that in mind, I phase to the spot right in front of the older man. The vacant face immediately lights up in hunger as I step into the Earth’s dimension. Growling as if he’s a wild beast, he attacks, and I circle his neck with my hands, pulling his shorter frame into my arms but keeping the flapping jaw away from me.
Immediately, I phase. This is one of the most taboo things we can do.
Most life forms on our planet know what we are and what we do. They seem to stay away from us instinctively, but there are always exceptions where we have accidentally killed small animals when we were younger. When a pet climbs into bed with you for the warmth, there are bound to be accidents. We phase into our dimension all the time while we sleep. As a Guardian, I usually sleep in my dimension. The past few days are the longest I’ve been away from my bed … and I miss it.
Ashes explode around me, shooting out of the sleeves and the other openings of the man’s clothing. Coughing slightly, I let my pod controller know